IBM Introduces a New Era of Mainframes with the AI-Focused z17

Today, IBM announced its latest z17 mainframe, designed specifically for artificial intelligence (including generative artificial intelligence) and hybrid cloud solutions. The new flagship system promises unprecedented performance, enhanced security, and advanced integration with modern cloud environments.

Integrated AI Accelerator for Lightning-Fast Processing

One of the key features of the IBM z17 is the Integrated AI Accelerator. This encrypted mainframe will have an IBM Telum II processor and a Spyre accelerator. With such content, the mainframe can be integrated to solve AI problems in more than 200 ways.

The 32-core Spyre accelerator will come as an optional PCIe card. In terms of performance, testing showed that Spyre processed several times more images per second per watt of power consumed compared to GPUs.

Also, compared to its 2022 predecessor, the z16, the z17 can process 50% more operations per day. This figure was achieved in part due to the system's broad ability to be integrated with different hardware and software.

The Future of Mainframes

According to IBM, z17 is a mainframe that is future-oriented, and the trends are already visible in the AI sector. This mainframe will support 48 IBM Spyre chips immediately upon release, with more to come within a year of release.

The IBM z17 is expected to be a key enabler for data-intensive enterprises that require the highest levels of performance, security, and reliability for their mission-critical applications and AI initiatives.

The z17 mainframes will become available for purchase on June 18.